Earthquake-proof and other structure.



Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. FRAZZI.' EARTHQUAKE PROOF AND OTHER STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE 8. I9I0.

THE CULUMBIA P'LAyOGRAPH co., WASHINgTON, n.

F. FRAZZI.

EARTHQUAKE, PROOF AND OTHER STRUCTURE.

' APPLICATION FILED IuI'IE 8.1910.

1 178,91 1 I Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor.

'WITN E SSES l coLUMBl DLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. DA L FRANCESCO rnAzzI, or Ciani/itam,` ITALY. I e

EARTHQUAKE-PROOF AND OTHER STRUCTURE..

To all whom it may concern f Be it known that 1, FRANCESCO subject of the King of 1taly,.residing at Cremona, in the Kingdom of taly, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Earthquake-Proof and Other Structures, of which specification. Y l rFhis invention relates to building constructions and has for one of its objects to provide a structure whichis highly elasticv and capable of resisting seismic shocks and lateral stresses. This is accomplished by employing building blocks of the special shape hereinafter described, and by reinforcing the saine with metallic wires or the. like and concrete or cement applied in the manner hereinafter indicated.V

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section ofa portion of a wall constructed in accordance with theV invention; Fig.. 2 is portion of a wall and floor beam showing aa vertical section of a different manner of positioning the building blocks; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the mannerV in which the horizontal reinforcing wires may be connected to the vertical reinforcing wires; Fig. 4: is ,a perspective detail view illustrating the manner in which the horizontal reinforcing wires may be connected to the frames of doors, windows andthe like; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the horizontal reinforcing wires may be secured to Y wires of the reinforced cement posts or columns. i

Referring'to the drawings, it will be noted that the building blocks are denoted by the reference character 1. They may be made of any suitable material, such as cement, clay and the like, and are provided on two of their adjacent faces with dovetail grooves 2 and on their other two faces with dove-1 Specification of Letters Patent.

the following is aV Vthe grooves at the vertical reinforcing ,i in the typeofy wall` shown in 2te use FRAzzI', a

a number of the larger size blocks 1. .The general principles of construction in Figs. 1 and 2, however, are inafter appear. f, l

In Fig. 1, the blocks are disposed horizontally and superposed so thatv the dovetail Vprojection on the-upper surface of one block will engage in the dovetail groove in the lower surface of the superposed block. In

the sides of the blocks are pcf sitioned horizontal reinforcing elements, such as thefwires t.v- These may be connected .tothe supporting members ofthe building, and, `if desired, may also be connected to the vertical, reinforcing wires, and door .21nd Window-frames.v In Fig. 5, the horizontal wires t are shown. connected to the vertical :wires umn ,orl post, a. Fig. 3\- shows the manner in, which these horizontal wires t may be connected'to the vertical reinforcing wires t, and Fig.y 4 shows the manner in'which' they may be connected to the frames b Vof doors, windows, and the like. The vertical reinforcing wires just mentioned' are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and may constitute the reinforce for'an or cement, indicated at E. The dovetail projections on the blocks serve vto anchor this coating of concrete, as clearly indicated .in the drawings. ment or concrete is also applied to that surface of the wall provided.v with Vthe grooves and serves in the grooves and also to produce continuous ribs which pass through all the alined grooves'of the blocks of eachcourse, thereby aiding in locking the blocks in place.

' Patented Apr. 11, 1916. l Appli-cation led June 8, 1910. Serial No. 565,823. v

the same as will here-V t of thereinforced coli external coating of concrete A coating of ce- .Y

kSi() to anchor the wires t It is obvious that the blocks maybe positioned in any cated in Fig. 2,

*ertically of wall illustrated in Fig. 2 is of greater thickness than that of Fig. 1, as in Fig. 2,"

the blocks are not superposed in a single vertical series, as in Fig. willbe noted that even in Fig. 2, the special shape of the blocks permits a wall to be constructed in which the blocks of the sev- 1. However, itv

eral courses are interlocked by the engagev.

nient between the cooperating grooves an projections,

side dovetail grooves for the reception of reinforcing wires and cement or concrete,

dovetailr projections and at the other side and which will present at one f capable of anchoring a coating of concrete. In both Figs. l and 2, the grooves 2 run in a horizontal direction, but itis obviousthat by standing the blocks on end, they may be made to run in a vertical direction to receive the vertical reinforcing wires.

Fig. 2 in addition to showing a portion of a wall, also shows a portion of ao'or beam U `constructed in accordance with the invention and involving the use of the interlocked blocks presenting their projections 3 to the concrete Hooring U grooves 2 to the ceiling E. It will now be seen that the blocks may be positioned in various ways and may be of various shapes and still other portion of a building in which the blocks are interlocked to each other and in which grooves will occur in one surface of the' wall for the purpose of receiving reinforcing 'wires which, in turn, may be connected to the supporting' elements of va building, and further in which projections will occur on the other surface of the wall capable of 'anchoring ya 'body of concrete. As the blocks are themselves interlocked and elastically reinforced against lateral stresses by the reinforcing wires which are connected to the supporting members of the building, and furthermore, as the reinand theiry be capable of forming a Wall or,

Vlock said rods in forcing wires are anchored ydirectly in the grooves of the blocks by the cement or concrete coating, it is obvious that a structure of great strength and elasticity is produced.

What I claim is In a construction such as described, the combination with the supporting elements of a building, of a plurality of blocks or slabs arranged in courses, said blocks or slabs provided with cooperating dovetail projections and recesses whereby the blocks of one course are interlocked with those of another course,'saidrblocks provided on their outer vertical faces with dovetail grooves, reinforcing wires or rods positioned in said groovesand connected to said supporting elements to strengthen the construction against lateral stresses, cement or concrete applied to said blocks and serving to the grooves, and dovetail projections on the outer faces of certain of said blocks adapted to be anchored in cement or concrete.

In testimony` whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCESCO mazzi.

Witnesses LYLE ROBE, R. EARL SALNoTI.

Golpiesof this patent may be obtainedl for ve cents each, by addressingithe Commissioner o1 Patents,

Washington, D; C. 

